Songs from the Second Floor

Name: Songs from the Second Floor
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: July 3, 2002
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 77

2002

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings

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7.5

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

New Yorker Films | Release Date: July 3, 2002 | Not Rated

Summary: Composed of a series of immaculately staged tableaux, Songs From the Second Floor is a stylized black comedy-turned-nightmare. [Film Forum]

Director: Roy Andersson

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 98 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

David Sterritt

In place of a conventional plot, this utterly unique Swedish movie offers a series of related episodes -- Some are funny, some are tragic, all are dreamlike and unpredictable, suggesting that the 21st century will be a lot weirder and wackier than we expect. Read full review

100

Roger Ebert

A collision at the intersection of farce and tragedy--the apocalypse as a joke on us. Read full review

100

Josh Larsen

Andersson catalogs misery of many kinds, and aside from the moments of humor in the film he offers no balm. Read full review

Elvis Mitchell

A heartbreakingly thoughtful minor classic, the work of a genuine and singular artist. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Ken Fox

Andersson creates a world that's at once surreal and disturbingly familiar; absurd, yet tremendously sad. The haunting score is by ABBA's Benny Andersson. Read full review

Ty Burr

The film is depressive, slow, darkly funny, unyielding in its formal rigor, and unsettlingly beautiful. It's obviously not for everyone, but only because not everyone can meet its stare. Read full review

J. Hoberman

Despite some deadpan, Jacques Tati-like orchestration and occasional sight gags, there's no real pleasure in the game -- Songs From the Second Floor is more absurd than funny. Read full review

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User Reviews

JoeT

Jan 16, 2010

Spookily brilliant. An odd, sad satire composed of several surreal vignettes, shot with a static camera. Roy Andersson, the director, imbues the film with a ludicrous, unique sense of dark humor. His early career was spent directing TV commercials, and here he lampoons consumerism with a Spookily brilliant. An odd, sad satire composed of several surreal vignettes, shot with a static camera. Roy Andersson, the director, imbues the film with a ludicrous, unique sense of dark humor. His early career was spent directing TV commercials, and here he lampoons consumerism with a bleak vengeance. I read somewhere (wish I could remember) a description of his lastest film, You, The Living, as a combination of the Far Side and a Luis Bunuel film. That's a perfect description for a perfect film.… Expand

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MarcelliPerello

Mar 3, 2017

La proposta d'Anderson és insuportablement desoladora. Amb un llenguatge cinematogràfic inusual al segle XXI, ens comparteix la seva irremisible solitud, i al fer-ho ens convida a confrontar la nostra. Experiència terrible i essencial.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GrantD243

Sep 11, 2019

Initially, I was a bit torn on Songs from the Second Floor. I thought that the cinematography was incredible and I did appreciate the message, but the film itself at times feels like a chore to watch. Of course, given the narrative and tone of the film this wasn't much of a surprise, butInitially, I was a bit torn on Songs from the Second Floor. I thought that the cinematography was incredible and I did appreciate the message, but the film itself at times feels like a chore to watch. Of course, given the narrative and tone of the film this wasn't much of a surprise, but enjoyability is always going to be factored into how I rate a film. The more I've thought about it, the more my appreciation has grown, but it's never going to be a film that I randomly pop in on a Saturday night. This is one you have to plan on watching and be prepared for.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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